Chai-Anan Samudavanija is a Thai

Thailand

Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...

 political scientist

Political science

Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...

, Director of Vajiravudh College

Vajiravudh College

Vajiravudh College is an all-boys boarding school in Dusit, Thailand.The school was established by Phra Mongkut Klao Chaoyuhua - King Rama VI who is also known as King Vajiravudh. it was originally named the "Royal Pages College"...

, President of the Royal Institute, former Judge of the Constitutional Court

Constitutional Court of Thailand

The Constitutional Court of Thailand is an independent Thai court originally established under the 1997 Constitution with jurisdiction over the constitutionality of parliamentary acts, royal decrees, draft legislation, as well as the appointment and removal of public officials and issues regarding...

, a former Professor of Political Science at Chulalongkorn University

Chulalongkorn University

Chulalongkorn University is the oldest university in Thailand and is the country's highest ranked university. It now has nineteen faculties and institutes. Regarded as the best and most selective university in Thailand, it consistently attracts top students from around the country...

. He was one of the key drafters of the 1997 Constitution of Thailand

1997 Constitution of Thailand

For legal and historical context, see the Constitutions of Thailand articlethumb|275px|Bangkok's [[Democracy Monument, Bangkok|Democracy Monument]]: a representation of the 1932 Constitution sits on top of two golden offering bowls above a turret....

. During the 2005-2006 political crisis, he was a vocal critic of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra

Thaksin Shinawatra

Thaksin Shinawatra is a Thai businessman and politician, who was Prime Minister of Thailand from 2001 to 2006, when he was overthrown in a military coup....

. He was associated with Sondhi Limthongkul

Sondhi Limthongkul

Sondhi Limthongkul is a Thai media mogul and leader of the right-wing People's Alliance for Democracy . He was elected for leader of the New Politics Party ....

: he chaired IEC and was head of several of Sondhi's foundations. Chai-Anan supported the 2006 military coup that overthrew the Thaksin government.

After gaining the support of the military and 40 provincial millionaires, Chai-Anan helped found the Matchima political party.